Multiple Sclerosis

Disability/Illness Description:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and optic nerves) that interferes with the brain’s ability to send and receive messages. Multiple Sclerosis affects women more frequently than men and in most cases, is diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40. It is a result of an abnormal immune system response that damages the protective covering (myelin) of nerve fibers in many areas of the central nervous system. This damage to myelin disrupts nerve conduction, which causes the various symptoms of multiple sclerosis.